FCA Hits the Road

A personal account of the adventures of Chris & Morris as they cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats during Foster Care Fortnight May 2010, to raise money for the Bulgarian organisation For Our Children

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Nearly home but 800 miles to go


8.45am and Benjamin's phone went off, it was his brother telling him he was at the FCA Cullumpton office and the new Mayor was there waiting to meet the intrepid adventurers. Blimey she was keen, we didn't think we were needed until 9.15! We belted down the road to FCA Cullumpton office, only to find out that poor humour runs in the Benjamin family and the Mayor wasn't there after all.

However, there was a stirring of excitement at the Cullumpton office and the team handed out flags and waved to passers bye. The locals looked on and stared bewilderingly at the lycra clad oddities in the midst of their lovely little town. The Mayor turned up and we did the honorable photographic thing, before being rousingly cheered on our way. No open top bus or ticker tape parade at Cullumpton. Bristol tomorrow though, surely they will have something grand organized to welcome the prodigals back to their home city...?!

What a day, sunshine, warmth and beautiful, undulating countryside! Great Britain in springtime is hard to beat and we pushed on at a steady pace, passing into Somerset and onto the FCA Taunton Office. Cream teas from the Parent and Child Training Group were gladly accepted before we hauled our full bellies back onto the bikes

By now the roads were flat and the Somerset levels saw our pace quicken towards our home city of Bristol. As we got closer more and more familiar sites came and went. Local knowledge saw us taking a sneaky cross country route through Ashton Court and up to Brunnel's finest. We stopped at the famous bridge and wondered what the great man himself would have thought of our exploits...he probably would have told us to get a decent size set of wheels, smoke cigars, take those silly helmets off and wear a proper hat.

A special mention needs to go to the 'Loons' that we have seen along the way, mainly traveling from one End to End or another. Todays 'Loon' prize goes to the 15 Honda C50 moped riders ( 1 with a trailer) in fancy dress, at a glance I noted: 2 Bears, 1 Rabbit, 2 Dogs, 1 Dolphin, 1 Cat and 1 mouse (rider and pillion).

Vital and not so vital statistics:
74 miles
15.6 MPH Average
37 MPH Maximum Speed
4 Potatoes
5 Banana skins
4 other LEJOG'ers
1 Mayor
2 Mr Benjamin's







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